Bitdefender Total Security 2017

Technical Specifications

Installation

Bitdefender's installer downloads the very latest program and virus definition files. The installer scans for active malware that could derail the installation. You can either activate your installation with a license key or select a fully functional 30-day free trial. And you must create or log in to your account at Bitdefender Central online, to connect this installation to the account. Note that you can only associate one level of Bitdefender protection with a single account. If you want to have the straight antivirus on some systems and the security suite on others, you must create two accounts.

Appearance

With the 2017 edition, the main window went through some more radical changes. It does still use a background in shades of gray, but they're substantially darker. And it does break down the window into rectangular panels that offer access to security stats and features. A circled green checkmark still represents safety, though the circles now animate when you open the window.

The big change is a new left-rail icon menu with eight selections: Protection, Privacy, Upgrade, Activity, Notifications, Account, Settings, and Help. Protection includes antivirus, Web protection, and vulnerability scan. On the Privacy tab, you manage the Safepay secure browser, the file shredder, and the password manager. Each of these offers a Modules view that gives you finer control. I like the changes. It's easier to find any given feature now.

Scanning

A full scan of my standard clean test system took 58 minutes, a good bit longer than the average time for recent products, which is 44 minutes. A second scan completed in half the time, which is good. However, a number of other products avoid rescanning unchanged files, making a repeat scan ridiculously fast.

Malware Blocking

This test starts when I open the folder containing my samples. In most cases, the minuscule access that occurs when Windows Explorer reads the file's name, size, and so on is enough to trigger an on-access scan. At first, I thought Bitdefender must be one of those that waits for a more significant access, like trying to launch the file. I didn't see any notification that it caught malware. But then I realized that it's on Autopilot! Looking closely, I saw that it wiped out just over 60 percent of the samples immediately.

Antiphishing

Use the switch to turn antiphishing protection on or off. Phishing websites don't need fancy scripts or drive-by downloads. They simply imitate PayPal, Facebook, Yahoo mail, your bank just about any kind of secure site. If you take the bait and enter your password, you're totally hosed. The fraudsters have full access to your account.

Fraud Detection

Bitdefender's protection against fraudulent websites doesn't stop with antiphishing. It marks up links in popular search and social media sites. But where this feature typically just identifies sites as safe, iffy, or dangerous, Bitdefender goes into great details.

SafePay

When Bitdefender detects that you're heading for a financial site, it offers to open it in SafePay, a separate, secure desktop with a full-featured, hardened browser that supports multiple tabs and bookmarks. Naturally Wallet is compatible with the SafePay browser. It allows installation of Flash, but no other extensions are permitted.

Vulnerability Scan

Bitdefender's vulnerability scan looks for missing Windows updates and for outdated browsers and other tools such as Java. It also flags weak Windows account passwords and, if the system supports Wi-Fi, insecure Wi-Fi networks. On my test system, it found updates for Firefox and Java, and suggested I change all of the Windows account passwords.

Bitdefender Wallet

Bitdefender's Wallet feature has evolved into a complete, if basic, password manager.

Wallet exists as an extension in Chrome, Internet Explorer, and Firefox. You can create multiple wallets, perhaps for different users of the family PC. When you create a wallet, you must give it a strong master password, something you can remember, but that nobody else would guess. You can choose whether or not to sync this wallet across multiple Bitdefender installations.

At creation time, a new wallet can siphon off passwords stored insecurely in your browsers. However, it doesn't remove them from the browsers or disable future password capture, the way Trend Micro does. There's no option to import passwords from other competing programs.

Wi-Fi Advisor

When you connect to a public network, the advisor checks its security level. If the network fails the sniff test, the advisor suggests you do all your browsing through the secure SafePay browser.

For the network that you designate as home, the advisor checks security and makes recommendations. For example, if you're using weak encryption, or no encryption, it advises that you use at least WPA2 encryption, and choose a strong password.

File Shredder

You can open the File Shredder and browse to add files and folders for deletion, or right click a file or folder and choose File Shredder from the Bitdefender submenu

For true, unrecoverable deletion, you need a secure deletion utility like Bitdefender's File Shredder component.

Some secure deletion utilities, especially those found in encryption tools, let you choose from many different shredding algorithms. But in truth, overwriting data just once before deletion is enough to foil all but the highest-end forensic recovery tools. Bitdefender overwrites the data three times, which is plenty.

Strong, Silent Firewall

Bitdefender's firewall does its best to stay out of your face. It automatically configures network permissions for known programs. As for unknowns, it allows them access, too, but keeps an eye out for misuse of resources. It makes total sense for the firewall to make these decisions, rather than bombarding users with popups asking for answers to questions they don't understand.

The firewall fended off the port scans and other Web-based tests I hit it with, making all the test system's ports invisible to outside attack. That's more of a baseline than an accomplishment, though, since the built-in Windows Firewall protects against such outside attacks.

Parental Advisor

You can manage Bitdefender's Parental Advisor online, leaving the local Bitdefender app on your Windows and Android devices to enforce the rules you set and report on the child's activity

Simple Antispam

Bitdefender blocks all spam, it particularly focuses on blocking spam that contains malware or ransomware. Bitdefender installs a toolbar that lets you mark any spam messages that reached the Inbox, or rescue valid messages that got tossed in with the spam.

File Encryption

Encrypting ransomware locks up your files and threatens to throw away the key unless you pay up cash, or Bitcoins. But when you control the encryption keys, keeping your most sensitive files in encrypted storage can be a very smart way to protect them. Previously reserved for Bitdefender's Total Security suite, file encryption is now available in this entry-level suite

Performance Tools

When you launch the OneClick Optimizer, it quickly scans for junk files, Registry issues, and privacy issues, meaning traces of your browser and computer use. On my test system, it reported that over 700MB of disk space could be freed up. You can, if you wish, just click Optimize immediately. The Startup Optimizer actually tracks how fast Windows starts and how much time is taken by programs that launch at startup

Mac Antivirus

If you log in to the Bitdefender Central page from a Mac, you can download Bitdefender's Mac antivirus product. If it's more convenient, you can send an email with the download link to the address you use on your Mac.

Protection on a Mac isn't nearly as extensive as what you get under Windows. It's little more than basic antivirus. It scans files on access, on demand, and on schedule, and remediates all kinds of Mac malware as well as any PC-targeted malware that passes through your Mac.

Anti-Theft for Windows and Android

Quite often, anti-theft is reserved for Android devices, but Bitdefender's extends to Windows devices as well. On either platform, you can locate, lock, or wipe the device, though the details are slightly different by platform. For Android devices, you can also trigger a loud alarm, helpful when you've simply misplaced the device around the house.

Mobile Security

As a standalone Android security product is the Bitdefender Mobile Security and Antivirus. The easiest way to install Bitdefender on an Android device is to send an email link from Bitdfender Central. On the device, one tap takes you to the Google Play store. Initially you get the feature-limited free edition, but once you log in to your Bitdefender account all features become available. Bitdefender runs a scan right away, to be sure your device is clean. It then prompts you to activate anti-theft, activate App Lock, and turn on the Snap Photo feature. The app's main screen is dominated by a status panel that's green if all is well, yellow or red if something needs attention. As on other platforms, Web security protects you from malicious and phishing websites, at least if you're using Chrome or the default browser.

All This and More

Bitdefender Total Security 2017 offers a truly staggering collection of security-specific features. Sure, it has award-winning antivirus, no-hassle firewall, cross-platform parental control, and easy-to-use spam filter. But the list goes on, including encryption, secure deletion, system optimization, password management, and more.

Summary